【明報專訊】Temples (寺廟) and shrines (神社) are two of the most common historical buildings you will find while visiting Japan. Do you know the difference between them?

Temples are built for Buddhism. A large incense burner is usually at the front of a temple, and you can find various Buddhist statues. The well-known Todaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara (奈良) is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shrines are for followers of Shintoism (神道教). You always enter a shrine through a torii (鳥居) gate, which is believed to mark the entrance to a sacred space. Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稻荷大社) in Kyoto is one of the most popular tourist attractions.

[Smarties' Power English 第225期]